Canterbury Property Market – What is really happening?

I had an interesting conversation with a local Canterbury accountant the other day. He is quite an observant chap (I know this because I have known him for a few years .. but I suppose you have to be, to be an accountant!). Anyway, he mentioned a few things he had noticed recently in Canterbury, one that Canterbury property prices had gone up in the last few years but nowhere near the growth levels that were being achieved in central London, and secondly, that he thought the number of for sale boards in Canterbury (and more importantly ones with sold slips on them) had increased over the last couple of years.

 

The rate of house price inflation in Canterbury continues to slow with growth of 10.4% in the 12 months to February compared to 11% just under six months ago, according to the latest Land Registry data. However, there is considerable local variation with house price growth ranging from 7.7% in East Sussex to 12% in Medway over the last 12 months.

 

Whilst Canterbury hasn’t seen the +20% per year in house price growth of London over the last couple of years,  Canterbury has seen  a sharp uplift in the number of properties sold throughout  2014 as base line demand for housing grows, which suggests there is substance to the recent pick-up in house price growth in the City. Since the Second World War in the UK, when the number of properties sold has grown, property values grew soon after. The 16.9% uplift in property transactions in Canterbury in 2014, compared to 2013, indicates the most significant recovery in house market activity in Canterbury (outside London) since 2007.

 

When you compare Canterbury with London, you could be looking at two different countries. In London, its mid / late teens house price to earnings ratios are impacting demand (i.e. the average property value is often 15 or 17 times the average wage in London .. in fact in Knightsbridge the ratio can be 30 to 1).  However, the number of people wanting to sell has dropped considerably, meaning that falling sales volumes combined with a general slowdown in activity in the run up to the General Election are resulting in lower mortgage approvals for home purchase.

 

Transactions are a great indicator for house prices. The acceleration in house price growth in London in the last two years was preceded by three years of rising transactions. A similar pattern is being registered in the Canterbury area, as pent up demand returns to the market supported by low mortgage rates and an improving economic outlook.

 

But before you get the champagne out, while the uplift in activity is welcome news, the number of Canterbury property sales in 2014 are still 23.1% lower than the level seen in 2007 and property values are 3.2% above the 2007 levels. The ongoing housing recovery is far from broad based and remains focused on middle to higher value areas within Canterbury where households have equity and find it easier to access mortgage finance. If you want to know more about the Canterbury Property Market, please visit the Canterbury Property Blog www.canterburypropertyblog.com or send me an email to canterbury@martinco.com.